1.
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
(Luke 23:34)
Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
2.
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
Have you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
3.
“Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)
What does Mary’s presence at the cross evoke in you? Why do you think was it necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain as he died?
4.
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)
Have you taken time to consider that Jesus was abandoned by the Father so that you might not be? What does this “word” from the cross mean to you?
5
“I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)
How do you respond to Jesus’ statement “I am thirsty”? What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?
6.
“It is finished!”
(John 19:30)
Do you live as if Jesus finished the work of salvation? To you have confidence that God will finish that which he has begun in you?
7.
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)
Have you put your life and, indeed, your life beyond this life, in God’s hands? How do you experience God’s salvation through Christ in your life today?
“It is finished!” (John 19:30)
ReplyDeleteDo you live as if Jesus finished the work of salvation? Do you have confidence that God will finish that which he has begun in you?
Salvation is won through sacrifice. In the Gospel account of John, Jesus breathed His last shortly after proclaiming those three words: it is finished. These words, while significant in their own right in the context of the passage from which they come, gain extreme poignancy when looked at through the greater lenses of salvation history. With these words, Jesus is declaring an end. He declares an end to sin by bearing the weight of sin. He declares an end to death through His death on a cross. And finally, he declares an end to sacrifice by giving Himself as the sacrificial offering. He takes the place of the lambs offered in atonement for offenses in the Old Testament, and Jesus is instead slain for our sins. He puts an end to sacrifice by serving as the ultimate sacrifice. But these words mean something else as well. The words “it is finished” speak to salvation itself. Here, Jesus is saying that everything necessary to complete the work of salvation is accomplished, and only through His death and Resurrection may His work come to fruition.
For the sake of transparency before beginning this particular section of the blog I must be forthright about my biases—Holy Week is my favorite part of the liturgical year. Now perhaps I simply feel this way because I can still smell the incense on my clothes from serving the Easter Vigil Mass, but I honestly believe that there is something pervasive about Holy Week. And that makes sense because, essentially, it is the pinnacle of our faith (at least from the perspective of the liturgical year). During Holy Week, we hear in the Scriptures some of the most pivotal accounts from the whole of salvation history. The Institution of the Eucharist, for example, is read in the Gospels at least three times throughout the week, and that is not without good reason. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic spirituality, making it something well worth emphasizing. Through the Last Supper, Christ instituted the memorial of his own death. He made known His place as the sacrificial offering. Also memorialized during Holy Week is the death of Christ. By His death, salvation was won and sin was conquered. It is something to never be forgotten, even if we are “a resurrection people”, that our salvation, the burdens of sin and death removed, was won through death on a cross.
“My God, my God, why have you abandoning me?” (Mark 15:34)
ReplyDeleteHave you taken time to consider that Jesus was abandoned by the Father so that you might not be? What does this “word” from the cross mean to you?
Nobody likes to suffer. Sometimes we have to, but nobody ever enjoys it. Not even Jesus, the son of God, enjoyed his sufferings. He went through three long, agonizing hours up on that cross. I’ve asked myself before, “Why would God let his Son go through all at? He could have saved him or at least ended his suffering sooner, after all he is God.” But also, we are God’s sons and daughters too. I think sometimes we forget about the closeness we have with the Father while looking at his somewhat more direct relationship with Christ. Jesus was brought to earth to save us. He didn’t only come to set an example for how to live, he didn’t come to show us that he was better than us because of his divine side, rather God became flesh in his son Jesus Christ to save us from ourselves. Jesus suffered on that cross because he isn’t fully divine , but because he has a human side of him that lets him be relatable to the every day person. Sure we can’t walk or water or multiply fish and bread, but we feel pain and can’t always escape from it. God let his son suffer for the sake of all of his other sons and daughters, because out of that suffering came a great reward, just as it will happen to us.
Holy Week, some love it and some don’t. I personally enjoy Holy Week. I think it’s a good reminder of the suffering before the celebration. I often feel Holy Week is cut short because of the Easter hype, but I once heard a saying that goes, “We aren’t done dying yet.” The entire season of Lent is a time to die to yourself so that you can live more closely with our Holy Father. So how is it that so many people forget to die to themselves while Jesus is literally dying for us in these last few days? The ultimate sacrifice to conquer sin and death is made this week. A large portion of our faith has to do with the belief that we can be forgiven and that we will one day live with the Father in heaven. This entire idea would not be possible without the death of Jesus on the cross. Whether we realize it or not, our entire liturgical season leads us to these moments, and throughout them we aren’t done dying until Easter Sunday
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
ReplyDeleteJesus spent his entire ministry trying to save his fathers people and along the way he told them that he was God’s son. Jesus didn’t gloat or become full of himself because he was the son of God, but rather he told them subtly. Jesus would preach and tell all those listening that his father would always forgive them. He told Pilate himself that his kingdom was not of this world. Jesus was right they did not know what they were doing. They had killed not only the son of God but one of the people of the Holy Trinity. He was there to save them and in killing him they helped him do that but they also committed a great evil by crucifying the savior of the world.
How could you argue that Holy Week isn’t the climax of the liturgical season it’s Easter! All of the prophets told of a savior coming but their main point was that savior SAVING us. Which he does when he is hanging on the cross. There is an entire week leading up to the resurrection of Jesus. We celebrate Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter by going to special masses. Christmas is beautiful and amazing but there is something special about Easter Jesus first died on the cross and then three days later he RESURRECTED. That is truly amazing and without that sacrifice and miracle we could not join him in heaven one day
“I am thirsty.”
ReplyDeleteWhile on the cross one of Jesus’s last statements were “ I am thirsty.” Although the soldiers gave him some drink on the end of a rag of a spear that was not the intent. Jesus is full filling the ultimate mission. The moment of “thirst” is a deliberate act to that end. Jesus is asking for thirst as a refreshing need but not as a physical need. I think Jesus was thirsty for God and ready to fulfill his mission and be refreshed in heaven. Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year for many reasons. It is a build of for the greatest event known to man, the resurrection. Many people try to argue that Christ wasn’t what he is built up to be. They say anyone can perform blasphemy and be hung on a cross, heck there were two other guys with him, but that is not what it is. Jesus was hung on the cross, died, and was put to rest in the tomb. The next day he rose, and was no where to be found in the tomb. That is why this date is the most important event of the liturgical year along with Holy Week which builds up to the resurrection, an event that allows people to enter through the gates of heaven.
2.
ReplyDelete“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Have you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
When Jesus says these words, he shows that he has the ultimate power that God has. While Jesus death is arguably one of the most human parts of his life, he still shows that he has the power to see things that will happen and forgive sins. Often times during his time on earth, we forget that Jesus is also God. He has feeling and he had pain, all things that we are familiar with. So in his last moments we see him forgive a sinner, one of the most holy and God-like things he ever does. Through lent and the passion of Christ, we get to follow jesus through his pain and sacrifice. The passion of Christ movie does a great job of showing how real it truly is. We often times don’t realize the sacrifice the Christ made for us. We don’t appreciate and cherish the love that was shown through being nailed to a cross for people you don’t even know yet. The whole church season is building up to this moment where Christ sacrificed his own life for ours.
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
ReplyDeleteAs demonstrated by Jesus, and in his final words, paradise awaits us. Like man, Jesus dies, but is then resurrected revealing the true paradise that awaits man. In many ways, Jesus is a man, but he is also the son of God. He endures, he suffers, but paradise is assured. Place trust within Jesus, and you will be entrusted. Trust in the paradise ahead.
Holy Week reminds mankind of Jesus’ suffering, it reminds us of God and the Church, it reminds us of what it is that makes us human. Easter is the most climactic day of the Church, it is a true celebratory reminder of the endurance Jesus underwent. The hardship and sufferance that he endured. The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event of the liturgical year, it is when Jesus returns. Undoubtedly, Holy Week is the most significant week of the liturgical year, and certainly the climax. Jesus is reborn, he is brought back to the Earth, no event is more significant than this.